How does posture affect your health

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Ignoring advice on good posture can affect your overall health and set you up for neck and shoulder strain, back pain and even joint damage.

Think of it this way: If you went to the gym and did strenuous leg exercises five days a week, your legs would feel overworked and sore. Sitting at a desk every day can bring about similar results. Poor posture forces you to overwork the muscles in your neck and back. When you sit at your desk to work, hold your shoulders and arms at a degree angle. Position your monitor straight ahead at eye level.

Bang says. Is slouching making you unhealthy? Lucky for you, quitting this bad habit is possible at any age. How you carry yourself can have a huge impact on your health. Bad posture can lead to upper body aches and pains, as well as a poorly functioning nervous system. Be mindful of your posture. If you work a desk job or like to enjoy the occasional Netflix binge, set a reminder on your smartphone or online calendar to help you remember to sit up straight.

Get up more often. Set an alarm or timer to remind yourself to stand up and move around. Maintain a healthy body weight. Carrying around extra weight puts unnecessary strain on your joints.

Shedding those unwanted pounds can help you carry yourself straighter and taller. Our website uses cookies This website uses cookies to give you the very best experience. Your continued use of this site is considered permission by you to use cookies in this manner. Please review our Read More for more information about the data we collect and the types of cookies we use. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.

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Expert Reviewed. From slouching over your laptop to constantly leaning to one side while waiting in line, your body positions can become subconscious habits—until one day when your shoulders, neck and back start to hurt. And it affects your entire body. Good posture can also be achieved by maintaining good spinal alignment during activities of daily living.

Good posture helps prevent neck, shoulder and back pain, makes it easier to breathe and digest your food, and helps you maintain flexibility and balance.

For these reasons, some researchers say good posture is a prerequisite to a healthy life [1] Kim D, Cho M, Park Y, et al. Effect of an exercise program for posture correction on musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. The price you pay for poor posture habits can be significant.

When pain develops, you may discover simple tasks like carrying grocery bags or driving your car suddenly become difficult. This strain can lead to neck pain and fatigue. Slouching, especially while sitting, can negatively affect breathing, according to a small study in Biomed Research International [2] Albarrati A, Zafar H, Algadir A, et al.

Biomed Research International. In observing the breathing force of 35 men, researchers found those who slouched had a lower breathing force than those who sat upright. Effect of forward head posture on thoracic shape and respiratory function.